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DCF takes custody of 2 children found in Greenfield home after search warrant leads to heroin charges for adults

Greenfield Heroin Arrests

This composite of mug shots shows Caitlyn Shepard and Steven C. Sochocki, both 24-year-old Greenfield residents, who were arrested Friday and charged with possession of heroin and illegal possession of an unspecified prescription drug. A third female who police didn't initially name is to be arraigned on a single count of possession of heroin. (Greenfield Police Department booking photos)

GREENFIELD — Two children were placed in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families on Friday after police say they were found inside a home where the adults were in possession of heroin.

Around 9 p.m., the Northwestern District Anti-Crime Task force and Greenfield police executed a search warrant 6 Oak Courts as part of an investigation into heroin sales. According to the Greenfield Housing Authority's website, "Oak Courts is a family public housing development with 2 and 3-bedroom units."

Caitlyn Shepard and Steven C. Sochocki, both 24, were arrested and charged with possession of heroin and illegal possession of an unspecified prescription drug. A third female who police didn't initially name is to be arraigned on a single count of possession of heroin.

Police say they found only a few bags of heroin in the home but came across a significant amount of empty heroin packets with as many as seven different branded stamps on them. The children, an 8-year-old and a 4-year-old, are in temporary custody of the state pending the outcome of Shepard and Sochocki's court proceedings.

In the Northeast U.S., heroin has made a big comeback recently, leaving local, state and federal authorities and drug treatment programs working feverishly to stem the tide. A major drug bust in the Bronx in late January highlighted what authorities expect is one of many high-volume heroin mills operating to process, package and distribute the relatively cheap opiate to communities across New York's tri-state area and much of New England.